The Language Barrier- "Dora Toast"

She's vocal, verbal, oral, whatever you want to call it, Ella talks a lot for a kid who's not even 2 years old yet. She can put sentences together, ask for the things she wants and needs, even tell you what hurts. That is, if you can understand her.

It's a fine art. One that I'm starting to master after many days and hours of practice. But Troy, has a hard time decoding the "Ellanese."

Today was a prime example. She was frustrated and furious with me because she wanted "Dora Toast." She asked several times, then she got demanding. You'd think it was a simple request, but I have no idea what she wants. I have toast. Dora is everywhere in this house, but that's not what she's asking for.

Here's my solution. "Show mommy what you want." I pick her up and she points to the shelf in the pantry with apple sauce. "Toast." "Toss." "Sauce." I can see where that comes from. But the Dora connection is still a mystery. So I set her down at the table, hand her the apple sauce, and she points to her place mat. It's Dora and we always use it for messy food. "Dora Toast." Now, it all makes sense.

One of my favorite "Ellanese" words was a mystery for days. I even asked Laura if she could help decode. But it baffled her as well. It came up every time she watched a DVD. It sounded like "David" or "Elephant." I called it "dayfunt." What is "dayfunt?"

I'd ask her to show me and she'd point at the TV cabinet. I'd show here anything with an elephant, but that didn't work. Finally I said I don't know what you want. If you want something "different" you have to show mommy what it is. That's it! DIFFERENT! dayfunt, DIFFERENT!! I'm a genius!

It may take me days to understand my child, but I will make every effort. Eventually, we'll bridge this barrier. In the meantime, I'm the best translator she's got!

Home Alone Survival Skills

We've officially been at this for 2 weeks. (Mom at home with Ella and Alex.) We're all sick, (1 sinus infection, 1 ear infection, 1 bronchitis, and who knows what Troy has) but we're all still alive and we still like each other!!! That has to count for something.

Troy says Ishould consider the good days and the bad days... they all equal out. Well, yes, I guess they do. Yesterday was a bad day. I had a fever, Ella was a maniac, Alex was miserable, and Troy decided to take his sick day by working--- just to get out of the house. That oughta tell you just how rough it can be when everybody is sick at the same time.

But today's another day. It was a good one. We weren't well enough for play group. (no need to infect other kids) But, we did venture out for lunch with my department at work and the kids were both on their best behavior. We had fun, they napped well, and mommy got some work done. I love days like this!

Seriously we've had some truly amazing moments together since mommy started staying home. I love them so much and I realize each day just how much joy I'm getting from their everyday lives. I'd miss that if I had to go back to the office. This is a great experience and opportunity for me. I hope to enjoy it for years to come.

I also feel a lot less guilty about leaving them with a babysitter. They went to Laura's Saturday night and Troy and I actually went out on a date. We saw a movie, we had drinks, etc... best of all, Laura needed our car for the baby seats, so we had her 1969 Mustang convertible for the night. We felt like newlyweds...

Of course, we came home, Alex had a fever overnight, and I slept sitting up with him on the couch, but that's parenthood. Wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

The little mother...and maternity leave ends

Seems like Ella and I are both juggling our time. She's all about the babies these days. We have several, and she has to have at least 3 everywhere she goes. Upstairs, downstairs, in the car, etc... those babies go everywhere. She nearly had a meltdown when Troy left the house this morning and DID NOT have any babies in the car. Luckily, Laura also has babies at her house, so the need was quickly met. She puts them in the car seat, feeds them bottles, gives them medicine, she's quite the little mother.

I on the other hand feel like I can barely keep up with my 2 babies. After 8 weeks, this was my last day of maternity leave. My last day to focus my attention on Alex and just be his mommy. Monday, I go back to work for 2 days, and then I'll be working from home. Alex and Ella will be here with me, so I'll divide my attention and time between the two of them, and work and this house, etc...

Oh yeah, did I mention Troy? I still hope to fit him and our time as a couple into that schedule somewhere.

I look at Ella and I realize she'll never have as much of my time as she did. I look at Alex and realize he'll never have my full attention the way Ella did as my first baby. I just try to meet both of their needs and be the best mommy I can. They love me for now. I just hope I don't screw that up when I'm home with them 24/7!

Moving to the Home Front... Missing Laura already!

It's something Troy and I have talked about since we were dating. What we wanted out of life. Our ultimate goals, etc... Mine was to stay home and be a mommy. Before we were engaged, or married or had kids, we both agreed how much we benefited from having a mom at home, and how we hoped that one of us would be able to be at home with our children. No latch key kids. That was our girl. Sounds simple, but in the 21st century world of 2 salary families, it's not.

My employer has made me an unbelievable offer that will make that goal a reality, starting next week. They asked if I'd like to return to my position, but work from home and avoid sending both children to childcare. The change would mean a pay cut, but it would also eliminate the major expense of two kids in childcare, and most importantly, it would put me at home, to nurture and care for my children. I can take them to the library, play dates, be there when they come home from kindergarten, etc... It's an opportunity that seems too good to be true. Troy and I feel we have to take advantage of this and do our best to make it work.

From the moment the proposal was handed to me, my first concern was what this would mean to Ella and to "her Laura." From the moment we walked into Laura's living room, both Troy and I knew this was a person we felt safe, comfortable, and grateful to leave our child with. Our first instincts were correct. We couldn't have been luckier. Laura and her family have basically adopted Ella as one of their own. Laura, Josh and their 4 kids (Matthew, Mason, Dalton & Hayley) make Ella feel so special and loved every day.

I knew how much Laura meant to Ella when we were in Florida over Christmas. Ella would play with her toy phone at Grandma Robinson's house and call Laura to tell her about what we were doing. She missed her! Two weeks away was apparently too much.

Starting after the 4th of July holiday, both Ella and Alex will be home with mommy, full time. I'm terrified that I'll now be responsible for two little lives, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, etc.. But I'm also thrilled that I'll get to be there with and for my kids.

Laura promises to let me call with questions, and to still be our great friend and adopted mommy. She came into our lives 2 years ago, and she'll stay in our hearts as part of this family, forever!

Alex and Ella

She loved him even before he was born. She'd hug my tummy and talk to my belly button and say "baby" all the time. But when she came up to the hospital that morning and met her new baby brother, Ella's life changed.

At first, she was unsure. Mommy was in a bed with tubes and couldn't pick her up. Daddy was there, but she didn't know what to make of all this.

She hugged him, and kissed him on the head and by the time she left, she was calling him by his name. "Alex." (although, when Ella says it, it's ALEC, she's not very good with the x sound.)

She notices every move he makes and every peep. It's always "Alex night night," or "baby Alex." She was in bed last week when Alex started screaming for a bottle, we heard Ella on the monitor saying"Alex crying."

She gets a little too aggressive with the hugging and patting and kissing etc... but so far, she's adjusting really well. Alex had lots of presents waiting for his big sister when she came to the hospital to meet him, so they're off to a good start.

I know the sibling rivalry will come. I had a little brother too. But at least we should have a few years of them loving each other first.

Be careful what you wish for!

My last blog was the beginning of a very long, and exciting weekend.

We celebrated Cinco de Mayo a day early on Friday night, May 4. I really wanted Mexican food from our favorite restaurant, even if I couldn't' have a margarita. I let Troy drink a whole pitcher for both of us... since he had a designated driver!

Too bad for him... Saturday morning I woke up at 6 a.m. in labor.

Alexander Gray Robinson was born at 10:12 that same morning. (Daddy and doctor wanted to make his middle name Paco or Jose... but I vetoed.)
He weighed 8 pounds 2 ounces.
He arrived a month early... my due date was June 1.
He scared us by swallowing a mouthful of amniotic fluid and not breathing for a full 30 seconds.. but a little suction and he was fine. He didn't have to go to the NICU. He's been happy and healthy and went home with us just as we expected.

He's already up to 10 pounds at just over a month old.
Plenty more to come.
But I'll start this post with the first of many photos, photos and more photos!

Still pregnant...

We're officially past the 36 week mark... and waiting (no so patiently) for this boy to make his entrance.

They've stopped contractions with medication, but now they probably won't need to do that if it happens again. My doctor won't do a c-section before 39 weeks, unless we have an amniocentesis that shows the boy's lungs are mature. He recommends we do that after 37 weeks... so we're just a week away from what could be the GO SIGN!!!

We're still on the schedule for a c-section May 25. But my doctor thinks labor will start before that, so I'm hoping he's right. Even so, that's 3 weeks from today, so we're in the home stretch!!!

I'm dilated a little over 1cm and I'm 60% effaced, so the process is in motion. Now we just have to keep that boy moving toward the light! They've given me pain pills and sleeping pills to help with the pressure and pain so I can sleep at night. I was down to just 1 or 2 hours of sleep per night and that was starting to take a toll on my body and blood pressure. Now I'm just big and bloated and have ankles the size of tree trunks!

Troy has to put up with all my complaints, so he may be more ready than I am to have this baby!

Ella on the other hand is enjoying the final days of her time as an only child. She's clingy and loving all over both of us most of the time. She'd rather sit on the couch and snuggle with us than play and run around. I'm anxious to see how she adjusts when baby boy comes home.

We'll keep you posted as we get closer. Troy has a phone list to get the word out once we have a boy. I'll send out emails and photos as soon as we're home.

Until then...